The Gogebic Range Water Authority has been, over the last six years, seven years, growing by leaps and bounds.

We're just completing Phase II, and with its completion the authority will have put in about $12 million worth of infrastructure.

Right now we're working on funding for several projects. One is a new water system for Indianhead and a pumping station. They will get some work. Anvil Location in Bessemer Township is going to get a new water system.

It's extremely critical, due to the fact that the existing septic tanks were built in the early to mid-70s. They have outlived their useful life and started to leak into the groundwater.

There's more to it than really meets the eye. Our area is economically depressed. Our citizenry is becoming young families, low income, and senior citizens, fixed income. Other than Grand View and schools we don't have lots of employers providing good paying jobs.

The loan portion came from USDA Rural Development.